Self-expanding retrievable or permanent bridge plug



W.' P. ORR

July 16, 1963 SELF-EXPANDING RETRIEVABLE OR PERMANENT BRIDGE PLUG FiledJuly 2'?, 1961 2 v,She/ets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

July 16, 196s w. p.. @RR 3,097,696

SELF-EXPANDING RETRIEVABLE OR PERMANENT BRIDGE PLUG Filed July 27, 19612 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.` 7.

United States Patent O 3,097,696 SELF-EXPANDING RETRIEVABLE R PERMA-NENT BRIDGE PLUG l Willis P. Orr, Tyler, Tex., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Jersey Production Research Company, Tulsa,

Okla., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 27, 1961, Ser. No. 127,228Claims. (Cl. 166--135) This invention relates to the production fof oiland gases. More particularly, this invention is 1an improved plug memberfor use an Ioil `or gas well.

For various reasons it is often necessary to firmly set plugs in vthetubing `and/or casing of a Well. For example, when it is necessary toperform repairs on the well equipment or perform well completionoperations, a plug must be set in the casing to plug ed a portion of thewell.

The new plug member to be described herein is simple in construction,has a number of parts to perform the required plugging function and iseasily operated.

Briefly described, this invention includes a self-expand-ing,stretchable member which may be lowered to the desired position withinthe casing in. a stretched condition. W'hen the desired position withinthe casing is reached, the self-expanding member is released. The memberthus expands automatically into .pluggingcontact with the casing withinwhich it is located.

The invention as well as its many advantages may be further understoodby reference to the following detailed description and drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is la sectional elevational view showing the plug member loweredto aa desired position which may be just above a producing formation bymeans of a running tool;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view showing the plug member in itsexpanded position in place within the casma;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the relativeposition of the parts of the running tool when the running tool is usedto lower the plug member to the desi-red position within a casing; U

FIG. 4 lis a view taken along line `4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. y6 is an enlarged view showing the slip release dogs containedwithin the running tool;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, showling the relativepositions of the running tool parts as the plug member is allowed 4toexpand into contact with the inside of the casing; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing yone type ofpulling tool which can be used to remove the plug from the casing ifdesired.

'The figures illustrate the use of this plug for plugging 0E .aproducing formation in a .tubinglesstype well. However, it -is to beclearly understood that lthe use of this plug is not limited to such lanapplication.

Referring to the drawings, the new plug is shown suspended in a boreholecasing 10 which entends from the earths sur-face (not shown). -Forreasons of clarity, the usual cement sheath about the casing is notshown.

The new plug member includes a self-expanding, stretchable member 14.Member 14 may be made of any suitable material such as rubber. A lowermetal plug 16 `and an upper metal plug 18 having a iishing neck 20 aremounted -in the lower and upper extremities of the self-expanding,stretchable member 14, respectively.

Gripping members such =as `slip segments `22 :are vulcanized to therubber portions 14. The slips 22 :are lo- AlCf cated mid-.Way betweenthe upper and lower ends of the member 14.

Iintegrally attached to the self-expanding, stretchable member 14 are anupwardly facing rubber cup portion 24 and a downwardly facing rubber cupportion 26 located above and below the slip segments 22, respectively. Acoaxial passageway 2'8 extends through the upper plug member 18 and 4theself-expanding, stretchable portion 14 and terminates within the lowerplug member 16.

An upper metal tubular sleeve 30 has its top threaded in the bore ofupper metal plug 18. A lower metal tubular sleeve 34 is integral-lyattached to lower metal plug 16 and `extends upwardly within member 14.Tubular sleeve 30 has an outside diameter slightly less than the insidediameter of tubular sleeve 34. The lower portion 36 of tubular sleeve 30ts into the upper portion of tubular sleeve 34. The tubular sleevesprevent reduction of passageway 28 when the plug is stretched as shownin FIG. 1 or contracted as shown in FIG. 2.

In operation, .the plug is lowered within the borehole casing 1) in itsstretched condition. This may be accomplished, for example, by using arunning tool including an elongated `central rod 40. The central rod 40is -suiciently long to stretch the plug to its position shown in FIG. 1when Ithe running tool is connected to .the shing neck, for example, byshear pins 42. In its stretched condition, the plug member has anoutside diameter sutliciently less than the bore of the casing 10 toprovide sucient uid bypass as the tool is lowered. For example, theoutside diameter of the plug in its -stretched condition may beapproximately onehalf inch less than the bore of `casing 10.

After the plug has been properly located, means to be subsequentlydescribed are provided in the running tool to .permit the rod 4% to bemoved upwardly by the expansion of plug member 14. After the plug member14 has been expanded into its expanded position, the running tool may bepulled free of the iishing neck 18 by exerting suliicient pull on therunning tool to break the shear pins 42. The running tool may then beremoved to the earths surface leaving the plug member 14 in its expandedposition.

lThe plug member will automatically self-expand into the position shownin FIG. 2. The expanded position of the plug member is greater than thebore of the casing 10. For example, it may be provided that the expandedoutside diameter ofthe plug member is one-half inch greater than thebore of the casing 10.

The small slip segments 22 vulcanized to the outside wall of the rubberportion 14 illustrate one method of retaining the plug in its setposition when it is subjected to differential pressure in eitherdirection. The rubber cuptype elements 24 and 2,6 at the top and bottomof the plug serve to seat the plug tighter as it is subjected todifferential pressure in either direction.

Should it -be desirable to set the plug permanently, the plug may becoated with a cementitious material such as epoxy resin when the plug isiu its stretched condition just prior to running in the hole. Thus, thecementitious material will permanently cement the plug member to thecasing 10.

FIG. 3 shows the relative position of the parts as the running tool islowered to the desired depth and below a collar recess 44 in casing 10.The running tool includes a body 46 having lower slots 48 and upperslots 50. Recesses 52 having spring biased slip release dogs `54pivotally mounted therein are provided in the body member 46 betweenlthe lower slots 48 and upper slots 50. A shear pin 55 (see FIG. 6) anda stop member 57 are also provided in each of the recesses 5-2.

A cone body S6 extends downwardly into the bore of body member 46. Lugsv58 are provided at the lower extremity of cone body 56. The lugs 58`extend outwardly into the slots 50. The cone body 56 is used to operatethe slips 60 which are pivotally mounted to the upper extremity of body46 by means of pivots 62. The tubular portion 64 of cone body 56 isreleasably connected into the body 46 by means of shear pin 66.

The jars 70, shown in dotted lines, have a solid rod member 72 fxedlyattached thereto and extending down- Wardly therefrom. A. metal tubularmember 74 is connected to the lower portion of solid rod member 72.

A bushing 76 is shear pinned to the rod 40 by shear pins 78. An annularmember 80 is screw threaded into the body member 46. Annular member 80serves to limit the upward movement of ybushing 76. The body member 46is also provided with an upwardly facing annular shoulder 82 to limitthe downward movement of bushing 76.

The cone member `56 is provided with a downwardly facing shoulder 84 atthe upper portion thereof. The downwardly facing shoulder 84 of conemember 56 engages with the upwardly facing shoulder 86 of the metaltubular member 74 when the jars 70V are raised upwardly to remove therunning tool from the borehole after the plug member 14- has vbeenexpanded.

In the operation of the running tool, the tool is run into the wellcasing with the plug 14 attached thereto, and the relative positions ofthe parts of the tool are as shown in FIG. 3. The plug member 14 is inthe stretched position. After the tool and plug have been lowered to thedesired depth below collar recess 44, the tool is then raised to allowthe dogs 54 to engage the recess 44. The shear pin 66 connecting thecone 56 to the upper part of body 46 is then sheared to release the cone5 6. Thereafter, a greater upward force is applied to the tool to breakshear pin 55 and move dogs I54 to the positions shown in FIG. 7. Thejars 70 are then raised a desired amount and then lowered fast to engagethe slips 460 with the wall of casing 10. i'I'he body 46 is thenstationary against downward movement.

Thereafter, the operator jars down on the tubular member 74 to shear thepins 78 holding retainer bushing 76 to the rod 40 extending into thebore of the plug member 14. This allows the plug to contract to thepositions shown in FIGS. 2 and 7. After the plug member 14 has beencontracted, the jars 70` are raised and jarred upwardly to shear theshear pins 42 connected to the fishing neck at the top of plug member14. The running tool is then removed to the earths surface.

If it is desired at any time to remove the plug member 14 from thecasing 10,- a pulling tool such as that shown in FIG. 8 may be used. Thepulling tool, generally designated 89, includes a solid rod 90 whichextends downwardly into the plug member 14. An annular release' member92 is slidably mounted about the upper portion of rod 90 and is normallysupported as shown by the shoulder 93 formed by the lower portionof therod 90. The purpose of the member 92 is to provide an emergency releasemechanism in case the plug 14 cannot be pulled loose when desired.

Rod 90 is threaded along a portion of its length as at 94. The threadedportion screw threads within a member 96 including grasping means 98.Grasping means 98 are flexible members and are adapted to slide over andsnap latch to the fishing neck 20 for removal of the plug member 14. Thegrasping members 98 are provided with inward protrusions 100. Springbiased friction blocks 102 are mounted in the upper portion of member 96and engage the wall of the casing to prevent rotation of member 96 asthe rod 90 is threaded vertically therethrough during the removaloperation.

To remove the plug member 14, the assembly or tool 89 is lowered by wayof an operating string of tubing until the flexible grasping means 98engage with the fishing neck 20 with the rod 90 extending into thecentral bore of the plug member. The rod is then rotated to the rightthereby extending the rod and stretching the plug 14 to the positionshown in FIG. 1 whereby it can be removed from the casing 10.

In case the plug member becomes stuck in the casing to the extent thatthe tool 89 cannot disengage it, the rod 90 is rotated to the left so asto move the rod vertically upward with respect to the member 96. As therod moves up the annular member 92 likewise is moved vertically untilthe member 92 engages the protrusions 100, thereby spreading the`grasping means 98 and disengaging them from the plug head 20. The tool89 is then removed from -the'casing 10 and the plug is drilled out orremoval attempts may be made with heavier equipment.

I claim:

l. A plug member for casing comprising: a self-expanding, stretchablemember having a coaxial passageway extending therethrough, saidpassageway being open -at the top and closed at the bottom; a fishingneck at the open end of the passageway; and gripping members on theoutside of the self-expanding, stretchable Imember whereby a runningtool having a rod adapted to enter the passageway and engage the bottomof the passageway may be used to lower the member down the casing instretched condition to the desired location and the tool then removed topermit the self-expanding member to expand into contact with the casing.

2. A plug member in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gripping membersare slip segments.

3. A plug member in accordance with claim 2 wherein the self-expanding,stretchable member is made of rubber.

4. A plug member in accordance with claim 3 wherein i `an integralupwardly facing cup portion and an integral References Cited in the leof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,156 Halliburton Nov. 29, 19382,212,619 Roe Aug. 27, 1940 2,678,101 Thaxton May 11, 1954 3,003,560Corley et al. Oct. l0, 1961

1. A PLUG MEMBER FOR CASING COMPRISING: A SELF-EXPANDING, STRETCHABLE MEMBER HAVING A COAXIAL PASSAGE WAY EXTENDING THERETHROUGH, SAID PASSAGE BEING OPEN AT THE TOP AND CLOSED AT THE BOTTOM; A FISHING NECK AT THE OPEN END OF THE PASSAGEWAY; AND GRIPPING MEMBERS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE SELF-EXPANDING, STRETCHABLE MEMBER WHEREBY A RUNNING TOOL HAVING A ROD ADAPTED TO ENTER THE PASSAGEWAY AND ENGAGE THE BOTTOM OF THE PASSAGEWAY MAY BE USED TO LOWER THE MEMBER DOWN THE CASING IN STRETCHED CONDITION TO THE DESIRED LOCATION AND THE TOOL THEN REMOVED TO PERMIT THE SELF-EXPANDING MEMBER TO EXPAND INTO CONTACT WITH THE CASING. 